The Delaware tribe consisted of, from left, front row, Addie Miller, Jameigh Miller, Colby Simmons, Caleb Armentrout, Katie Heavner, Jayden Souza, Phoebe Pownell and Sydney Demers; and back row, Aiden Shirk, Alanna Miller, Jax Bennett, Harper Marsh and Sean Waggy.
Pendleton County 4-H’ers concluded their week of camp at Thorn Spring Park with council circle on June 6. Sixty-three 4-H’ers were enrolled for this year’s camp. The week’s theme was “Survivor.”
Camp classes and instructors included: air pistol – Wes Puffenbarger, air rifle – Rick Pownell, animal investigation services – John Pingley, archery – Brooke Alt, basket making (beginner and advanced) – Janet Hartman and Vicki Skavenski, Dollar Tree crafts – Sue Alt, first-year camper – extension camping instructors, fly fishing – Danny Hartman, Becca Meyers and Trout Unlimited staff, Brick by Brick LEGO engineering – Heather Waggy, My Pledge to Healthy Living – Anna Rexrode, outdoor cooking – Mary and Gary Hess, shotgun – Rick Pownell, STEM – STEM ambassador, summertime drinks and snacks – Heidi Kimble, tribal painting – Sue Alt, and tie dye – Amanda Simmons.
Camp specials highlighted each day. On Monday activities revolving around the “Survivor” theme – knot tying and how to use a compass with Becky Puffenbarger and Nancy Hodges, exploring bugs with Curtis Betty of the West Virginia Forestry Service and AmeriCorp Intern Kacey Shifflett, Leave No Trace with WVYEP Susan Carroll and STEM classes with Taylor Davis, STEM ambassador. On Tuesday, campers traveled to the James Madison University’s Adventure course where they participated in team building activities. Wednesday morning, Officer Matt Stover with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources and his search dog, Luna, visited the camp to speak to campers about what the WV DNR does and job opportunities and a demonstration of Luna’s training and skills in the field. The week’s festivities wrapped up on Thursday with field day games and a total camp clean up.
During the closing council circle on Thursday evening the following awards were given:
Lucky penny certificates to 14 first-year campers — Russell Eckard, Addie Miller, Colby Simmons, Harper Marsh, Blayke Bennett, Stella Halterman, Emma Nesselrodt, Brian Cheeseman, Dakota Vandevander, Cambri Heitt, Brynleigh Ruddle, Raelynn Bergdoll, and Loralei Price;
Lucky nickel certificates were given to second-year campers — Brantly Propst, Claira Kimble, Kenden Champ, Maycee Woods, Sean Waggy and Isabella Hoover; and
Miss and Mr. Congeniality — Vaylee Harper, Lexi Hedrick, Ty Heavner, Ty Armentrout, and Breymann Keesecker.
Class awards were presented to the following campers: air pistol – Easton Boner, Vaylee Harper, and Breymann Keesecker, air rifle – Cole Harper, animal investigation services – Russell Eckard; archery – Stella Halterman, Blayke Bennett and Chevelle Noble, basket making beginner – Hannah Heavner, basket making advanced – Vivan Pownell, Dollar Tree crafts – Brynleigh Ruddle, first-year camper – Colby Simmons, fly fishing – Kendon Champ and Aiden Shirk, Brick by Brick LEGO building – Cambri Heitt and Maddie Kirk, My Pledge to Healthy Living – Hannah Bennett, outdoor cooking – Lydia Heavner, Abby Judy, and Jax Bennett, shotgun – Ty Armentrout and Caleb Armentrout, STEM – Sean Waggy and Cody Miller, summertime drinks and snacks – Addie Miller, Loralei Price and Katie Heavner, tribal painting – Claira Kimble, and tie dying – Phoebe Pownell and Sydney Demers.
Callie Judy was chosen to represent the Head H, Ty Heavner, the Heart H, Alex Adams, the Hands H, and Lydia Heavner, the Health H. Katie Heavner was selected as Spirit of Camp and also received a $25 scholarship to a 2025 state camp by the Freida Dunkle scholarship.
Sydney Demers was awarded the Outstanding First-Year Camper Girl Scholarship, while Colby Simmons was awarded the Outstanding First-Year Camper Boy Scholarship.
Tribal chiefs, Katie Heavner, Zander Adams, Alex Adams, and Ty Heavner, received a half scholarship to the 2025 county camp from the Judy Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The Andy Guy Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship to 2025 County 4-H camp, was awarded to Cody Miller.
Sean Waggy received the Outstanding Second-Year Camper award, a full scholarship to the 2025 County Camp funded by the McCoy Family in memory of Bill and in honor of Harriet.
Lexi Hedrick received the 4-H’s award, which provides a full scholarship to a third-year camper to the 2025 County Camp.
A new award for 2024 was given in Memory of Ralph Dunkle by the Dunkle Family, which was a $25 return scholarship to the 2025 county camp. Maycee Woods received this award.
McKenna Hedrick received the Clover Scholarship, Ty Heavner, the Leadership Scholarship, and Phoebe Pownell, the Opportunity Scholarship. Each is a full scholarship to a 2025 state 4-H camp of their choice.
Callie Judy was the recipient of the 4-H Shooting Sports Scholarship, sponsored by Jim Dever, which is a full scholarship to the 2025 Ultimate Outdoor weekend at Jackson’s Mill.
Tribal Loyalty certificates were awarded to McKenna Hedrick and Easton Boner (Cherokee), Phoebe Pownell and Sydner Demers (Delaware), Lydia Heavner and Cambri Heitt (Mingo) and Vaylee Harper and Maddie Kirk (Seneca).
Tribal honors were awarded to the Seneca tribe.
Tribes for the week consisted of the following:
Cherokee — Alex Adams (chief), Callie Judy (first sagamore), Abby Judy (second sagamore), Easton Boner, Owen Champ, Kenden Champ, Ross Pownell, Breymann Keesecker, Hannah Heavner, Kynleigh Sponaugle, Reagyn Atkins, Emma Puffenbarger, McKenna Hedrick, Hannah Bennett, and Russell Eckard;
Delaware — Katie Heavner (chief), Caleb Armentrout (first sagamore), Jayden Souza (second sagamore), Sean Waggy, Aiden Shirk, Jax Bennett, Alanna Miller, Phoebe Pownell, Jameigh Miller, Addie Miller, Colby Simmons, Harper Marsh, Sydney Demers, Blayke Bennett, and Stella Halterman;
Mingo — Zander Adams (chief), Tanner Hedrick (first sagamore), Ty Armentrout (second sagamore), Cody Miller, Brantly Propst, Chevelle Noble, Maycee Woods, Gary Smith, Bryce Propst, Lydia Heavner, Vivian Pownell, Lukas Alt, Emma Nesselrodt, Brian Cheeseman, Dakota Vandevander, and Cambri Heitt;
Seneca — Ty Heavner (chief), Jacey Thompson (first sagamore), Cole Harper (second sagamore), Bella Hoover, Chloe Barkley, Lexi Hedrick, Tori Heavner, Claira Kimble, Maddie Kirk, Marion Williams, Carly Kimble, Vaylee Harper, Mason Harper, Addie Rexrode, Brynleigh Ruddle, Raelynn Bergdoll, and Loralei Price; and
Big Foot — Brooke Alt (camp director), Janet Hartman (West Virginia University Extension Office administrative assistant), Jessica Hoover (WVU Ag Extension agent), Will Behrens, Morgan Griffith, and Dalton Dearth (extension camping instructors), Taylor Davis (WVU STEM ambassador), Amanda Simmons, Mary Hess, Rick Pownell, Wes Puffenbarger, Bobby Keesecker and Gary Hess (counselors) and Nancy Barkley and Jessica Barkley (food service).
